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Tag: celebrity chef

  • Paula Deen to Launch Her Own Digital Network

    Paula Deen Ventures, the company behind celebrity chef Paula Deen‘s media initiatives, today announced that it will launch the Paula Deen Network sometime in September. The digital network will feature daily programming and recipes from Deen, who is best known for her Food Network show Paula’s Home Cooking.

    “While Paula had several offers to return to broadcast television, she ultimately decided to launch the Paula Deen Network because it gives her a greater level of direct access to her millions of fans when it is convenient for them,” said Steven Nanula, CEO of Paula Deen Ventures. “In addition, Paula will enjoy full creative control of the shows, recipes, and content, and be able to give her fans exactly what they love most about her. With 4.2 million fans on Facebook and 1.24 million followers on Twitter, it was clear to us that an interactive digital network was the way to go.”

    Deen was forced off TV and dropped by her publisher one year ago after admitting during a court hearing that she had used racial slurs in the past. Deen recently announced a 20-city Paula Deen Live! comeback tour of live cooking shows.

    The Paula Deen Network will feature on-demand content from Deen that can be accessed via computer, tablets, and smartphones, with smart TV access planned for he future. A preview of the network will be shown during Deen’s Paula Deen Live! shows. Deen has also released a Youtube video promoting the new network.

    The network will be subscription-based, requiring fans to pay up to access the content. A 14-day trial offering of the service will be available at launch and pre-registration will begin in July.

    “I’m so excited about my new online Network and can’t wait to show everyone what we’ve been working on,” said Deen. “We’re going to have so much fun being together and cooking up some wonderful new and classic dishes. Y’all can get my recipes, tips, and cooking anytime you want – this is for you.”

    Image via Youtube

  • ‘Two Fat Ladies’ TV Star Clarissa Dickson Wright Dies at 66

    The last TV personality of Britain’s Two Fat Ladies has passed away.

    At the age of 66 years old, Clarissa Dickson Wright died Saturday at Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary.

    Her cause of death was said to be unknown.

    Born on June 14, 1947 as Clarissa Theresa Philomena Aileen Mary Josephine Agnes Elsie Trilby Louise Esmeralda Dickson Wright, the TV star grew up in London.

    According to CBS News, Dickson Wright dealt with alcoholism later in life during her career as an attorney. After recovering from alcoholism and leaving the legal profession, she became a caterer and ran a cookery bookstore.

    BBC scouted her for the TV show series while she was working at the bookstore.

    At the time, Dickson Wright said she had no professional experience in cooking, but she became a dynamic duo along with co-host Jennifer Paterson.

    Here is a 1998 interview of the pair:

    The international program became an immediate hit, showing the pair touring Britain in sidecars and on motorcycles. Dickson Wright and Paterson were mainly known for traveling to various locations to cook exotic meals and share culinary advice.

    “She [Dickson Wright] was a force of nature and a true character, someone who knew how to tell a great story and had a fabulous sense of humor,” said show producer, Patricia Llewellyn.

    The show came to an end, however, in 1999 when Paterson died from cancer at the age of 71.

    The TV cook celebrity later released an autobiography in 2007 titled Spilling The Beans. She also appeared in other TV series.

    Her agent, Heather Holden-Brown, told BBC News Monday, “Her fun and laughter, extraordinary learning and intelligence, will be missed always by so many of us. Loved dearly by her friends and many fans all over the world, Clarissa was utterly non-PC and fought for what she believed in, always, with no thought to her own personal cost.”

    The clip below shows the pair cooking together:

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Paula Deen Compares Herself To Michael Sam

    Paula Deen may have put her foot in her mouth yet again.

    Although, her comment was relatively innocent, the delivery has definitely raised eyebrows as some people just aren’t too thrilled with her slightly awkward connotation.

    On Wed., Feb. 26, the 67-year-old celebrity chef and cooking show television host spoke exclusively with People Magazine. During the interview she gave fans a verbal depiction of what her life was like during last summer’s scandal.

    The publication reports that Deen admitted that some days were much more difficult than others as she barely had the strength to “get out of bed.”

    “When I woke up each morning, it was like my world was crashing down again,” she admitted. While most of the interview centered around her life during and after the racially-charged scandal, the problem came when the Georgia native opted to give an example to express her sentiments.

    “I feel like ’embattled’ or ‘disgraced’ will always follow my name,” she expressed. “It’s like that black football player who recently came out,” Deen said in reference to the former University of Missouri football star and NFL prospect, Michael Sam. “He (Sam) said, ‘I just want to be known as a football player. I don’t want to be known as a gay football player.’ I know exactly what he’s saying.”

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    Given Deen’s 2013 scandal was centered around accusations of her using the N-word, the example she used to get her point across definitely didn’t help things. As a matter of fact, comparing herself to Sam may have actually made things just a bit worse. Regardless of whether her insinuation was innocent or otherwise, a number of people took to Twitter to express their disdain of Deen’s remarks.

    But, nevertheless, she credited her fans’ support for getting her through the rough patch. “If it wasn’t for my fans’ love, I’d be home breathing into a paper bag,” Deen says. “When I woke up each morning, it was like my world was crashing down again. … I’m fighting to get my name back.”

    Although Deen recently secured a $75 million dollar private equity deal, her comeback may still have a few areas that need improvement. With her latest remarks, it looks like she’ll just have to continue to press forward, because the fight doesn’t appear to be over just yet.

    Image via Paula Deen, Facebook
    Image via Paula Deen, Facebook

  • Paula Deen Stirs Up $75M Private Equity, Comeback Deal

    Paula Deen has finally received the revival needed to jumpstart her career again. On Wednesday, Feb. 12, Deen and Najafi Companies issued a detailed press release announcing the establishment of a new enterprise, Paula Deen Ventures.

    The Wall Street Journal reports that the billion dollar content and consumer distribution company has agreed to invest an estimated $75 million to $100 million into the venture with the celebrity chef. The monetary backing has been put in place to solidify the success of Deen’s resurgence following last year’s setbacks.

    According to The Associated Press, the new company will oversee the distribution of Deen’s restaurants, cookbooks, product endorsements and other remaining entities within her media empire.

    Jahm Najafi, founder and CEO of the Phoenix, Arizona-based private investment firm weighed in to share his anticipation about the merger with Deen. “All of us at Najafi Companies have a deep respect for the hard work, unique content and quality products which Paula has built around her brand,” says Najafi.

    “We know that the enterprise will be successful and valuable, as Paula and her team continue to bring quality products and experiences to her loyal fan base; and now we have a proven management team in place to build and lead the organization.”

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    The 67-year-old cooking show television host also had laudatory things to say about her new business partner. She shared her sentiments of business growth, the partnership, and the optimistic vision she has for the Paula Deen Ventures merger.

    “I couldn’t imagine a better partner than Jahm Najafi, with his track record of success. Jahm’s vision, attention to detail and       entrepreneurial spirit will help us grow to new heights,” says Deen. “Jahm and Steve are both so well respected as leaders. I know this is the right decision to lead my team, as we continue to share quality products with my fans – whose love and support have built my brands.”

    Deen also addressed her fans via Twitter expressing her gratitude for all of the congratulatory tweets sent in honor of her new partnership.

    Steven Nanula also shed light on some of the upcoming products Deen plans to produce and distribute under the newly launched umbrella company.

    “Paula’s deep involvement in developing and bringing great products to market demonstrates her high level of commitment and passion for her business,” says Steven Nanula.

    “We are excited with the new enterprise to develop progressive business initiatives, as well as to strengthen existing partnerships that include Meyer Corporation, America’s largest cookware distributor; leading furniture manufacturer, Universal Furniture; and one of the nation’s leaders in natural poultry products, Springer Mountain Chickens.”

    Image via Paula Deen, Facebook (1) (2)

  • Giada De Laurentiis Walked Runway for NYFW

    It seems celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis has a newfound respect for models.

    That’s right, the smiley chef made her debut last night modeling at the Heart Truth Dress Collection show for New York Fashion Week.

    “I’m super excited; I’ve never done this before. I used to think being a model and walking the runway was an easy job, but I have changed my mind. I have so much respect for those women because it’s a tough job,” she said.

    According to the lovely chef, she mastered her very own walk for the runway.

    “I’ve sort of not asked anybody. I kind want it to be my own experience,” she exclaimed.

    The 43-year-old rocked the stage and her fiery red dress. You go, Giada!

    Brand creative director, Lubov Azria said, “We’re really focusing on our 25-year anniversary, and celebrating the brand’s timeless elegance and affordable luxury,” she shared. “I still have the same designer that did the first show. It brings back memories!”

    The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week kicked off yesterday with designs from Nicholas K. The show will go until next Thursday evening.

    Image Via YouTube

  • Anthony Bourdain to Open NYC Food Market

    Last week the New York Post’s Page Six broke the exclusive news that chef, author, television personality and overall food connoisseur Anthony Bourdain plans to open a large-scale food market in New York City.

    Known for his vast knowledge of international food and dining, Bourdain said in an email to Eater that he looks forward to bringing his culinary experiences home to his native New York City.

    He said he is “carefully assembling a dream list of chefs, operators, street food and hawker legends from around the world—in hopes of bringing them together in one New York City space.”

    He specifically cited Singapore street food, saying he hopes representatives of Straits hawker masters will be an important part of the food market project.

    “My likes are pretty well known: dai pai dong in Hong Kong, Boqueria in Spain, hawker centers in Singapore, street tostadas in Ensenada. To the extent that I can help bring those things home to New York, along with a truly interesting collection of home grown innovators, I will be very, very pleased.”

    Bourdain will be collaborating with Stephen Werther on the project. As CEO of the privately held, New York-based WiNK Retail Group, Werther is expected to lend his business knowledge to the venture. Werther foreshadowed plans leading up to the opening, and admitted to being a food enthusiast:

    “We are ready to go with the concept, so we are going to be doing some very cool and unexpected pop-ups between now and the opening . . . showcasing different parts of what will be incorporated into the final big market. I am a huge foodie, so you can only imagine how much fun this project is to work on.”

    Bourdain and Werther declined to disclose the market’s location, but said it’s part of a large development project. The Post speculates that it could be 3 World Trade Center or Hudson Yards.

    Bourdain, who currently travels the world for CNN’s Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, told Eater: “If nothing else, I hope to soon be able to enjoy a really good Chicken Rice in NYC.”

    Image via Twitter